Thursday, August 26, 2009
Filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18-33)
As mentioned previously, spiritual living involves the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of the believer. Powerful spiritual living requires His dynamic filling (18). Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit; but not every believer is filled. Just as a disobedient believer may grieve the Holy Spirit, so a disobedient believer may neglect the command to “be filled with the Spirit.”
Paul argues that whereas before alcohol had been a controlling factor in life, now the Holy Spirit was to be the controlling influence. No longer should alcohol have any control as all control rightfully belongs to the Holy Spirit. (Consumption of any beverage alcohol is clearly wrong, since even moderate drinking exercises control—usurping the Spirit’s place in a believer’s life.)
With the Holy Spirit in full control, His influence in daily life clears the pathway to victory. If we’re depressed, He gives a song (19); and if we’re dissatisfied, He brings contentment (20). In addition, He helps us by directing life’s most important relationship: Christian marriage.
Most Christian couples are familiar with Paul’s classic commands for marriage in verses 21-33. Many wonder, however, how such an ideal can be met realistically. Bluntly stated, even Christian couples can not succeed in marriage by themselves. What’s needed is a good strong dose of the Holy Spirit’s filling (His control) in the lives of both the husband and the wife. With God in charge, the ideal becomes the real; and marriage reflects God’s eternal truth.
